Philippines watching 2024 US presidential race closely, seeks to strengthen ties, as China relations sour, envoy says
- Jose Manuel Romualdez said any change in US leadership is an opportunity to strengthen the alliance between the two countries
- Defence treaties have stepped up under Joe Biden and Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, with both leaders keen to counter China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea
Beijing regards the island as a breakaway province to be brought under mainland control – by force, if necessary. Many countries, including the US, do not officially recognise Taiwan as an independent state but oppose the use of force to change the status quo.
It gives us an opportunity to renew what we’ve already been saying, that our relationship with the US is an important one
“The only challenge that we face, especially for us in the embassy in Washington, DC, is what happens in November. It’s a concern for every country who would be the next president … everybody is preparing for that,” Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez told Reuters in a video interview.
“Any change is always something that we welcome,” Romualdez added.
“It gives us an opportunity to renew what we’ve already been saying, that our relationship with the United States is an important one, we value it, and we really hope that this is the same feeling that they have for us.”
PLA sends forces to monitor US-Philippines air patrols over South China Sea
Expanded exercises
Military exercises have taken place regularly for decades, but manoeuvres have extended lately to include joint air and sea patrols over the South China Sea and close to Taiwan, actions mainland China has seen as provocations and “stirring up trouble”.
Beijing’s ties with Manila have soured amid repeated spats over disputed features in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, during which China’s coastguard has used water cannon to drive away Philippine vessels, disrupting fishing and resupply missions to troops in what Beijing sees as its territory.
The Philippines’ western allies and “like-minded” partners see China’s “aggressive behaviour as totally unacceptable,” said Romualdez, a cousin of the Philippine president.
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Philippines accuses China of using water cannons to obstruct its vessels in South China Sea
He said it would not waiver in its is commitment to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights in the South China Sea and “will not back down” over the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef on which the Philippines grounded an old warship in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.
Despite other global challenges, the United States remains “committed to our mutual defence treaty, committed to our alliance,” Romualdez said.
That 1951 treaty binds both countries to defend each other in the event of attack, and Marcos last year succeeded in pushing Washington to make clear the extent of that security commitment.
Romualdez also said the relationship was expanding in economic areas too, with the United States due to send its first presidential trade mission to the Philippines next month, for which there was “very, very strong” interest from American companies.
